An animal rights group is demanding an investigation of the
University of Washington primate center for its treatment of research
animals.

Using the UW's own records, the Ohio-based group Stop Animal
Exploitation Now filed a federal animal welfare complaint, citing 21
problems at the lab in the last two years.

The records show that monkeys escaped their cages and some were
injured, including tips of fingers or toes ripped off. Two monkeys died
after medical procedures.

A spokesman for the UW facility says escapes most often happen during
frequent transfers between cages.

The UW lab houses hundreds of animals used in research. It's the
largest lab of its kind in the nation.

A spokesman for the Agriculture Department, which regulates the
treatment of research animals, says it will consider the complaint
adding it's too early to know if the UW violated the federal Animal
Welfare Act.